Coping with....

Hi

I have Been reading these forums for quite some time now but this is my first time posting. I am Rob from UK. I got diagnosed with schizophrenia many years ago now and been coping good. I have been doing courses and getting back a semi normal life.

Recently I had a fight (argument) with a friend where I grabbed them and they backed off and I instantly came to my senses. Problem is now my paranoia has hit new heights, I find it very hard to eat, i'm nervous and imagining bad things happening all the time. I have started to sleep a lot more I sweat more and feel like i'm psychically ill all the time.

I have rung the psychiatrist office today but cant get seen for another couple of weeks. I am real unsure I can make it that long in current state. I may go to the GP in the morning but i'm afraid of being sectioned also my family doesn't seem to understand the extent of the problem and wants me to carry on like normal (even though i'm afraid to get up to go to the bathroom most of the time) any advice for coping ? or anyone feel this way because this is a bit of a new one to me! This is the 4th day of feeling the same

Thanks for reading.

Rob

Ok i haven't got schizophrenia but i've had friends who have it. And i've been around them in difficult times.

Why are you scared of being sectioned. What i would think is if you do happen to go into hospital of your own free will, you are going to be looked after like any other patient. What do you think they would do to you? But I would have thought that hospital is only really difficult and awful for people who try to resist going in to hospital and have to be forced.

One of my friends had that happen and she told me how scary it was for her. But knowing what was going on in her life before that point, (she had three little kids and is a single mother it was all pretty scary for them) there was no alternative (even if she didn't have kids she was too out of touch with reality).

Can you even be sectioned if you get yourself admitted anyway.

Anyhow, i think you should go and see the GP. The thing is if someone goes in to get help, they probably don't need to put you in hospital. You don't sound like you need to be in hospital. You sound like you need more/different meds. Generally they put people in hospital for observation or to stabilise them when they are really off the wall and at risk to themselves or to others. I don't think the gp would put you in hospital. You sound as though you are still in touch with reality even if things are getting weird. I think its risky to wait two weeks.

When you phoned the psychiatrists office did you give any indication of your current problem. I mean do they realise how important it is that you see someone now. Or did they tell you should go and see your GP. I think its poor form that the psych dr couldn't see you or make some special arrangement for you if he understood what's going on with you. If you didn't explain, perhaps you should phone up again and let them know.

I think your family is right. Just carry on as normally as you can, and all of the current issues you face will probably resolve themselves. It's strange to me how things seem to resolve themselves over time, but I've noticed it time and again. I'd try to refrain from worrying too. It would probably do you no good.

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

I did try to carry on as normal today, I went out and helped a family member decorate a little. Problems were me losing my balance for some reason, also still cant stop feeling sick even when my mind stays calm my body reacts as if in danger.

I do have an appointment with GP tomorrow and Head Dr for 2 weeks time. Delusional thoughts are the main worry at the moment, like thinking people are come to kill me so I keep hovering over the window back and front looking who is around. Also not sleeping with things to defend myself now but it seems like i'm getting there I looked into home safety and other nasty things to protect myself or give myself an escape. I really don't trust myself now. No voices or night terrors at moment which is great, but paranoia is through the roof like I just cant calm down, like peoples voices outside make me jump and run to the window. I have violent thoughts always creeping into my mind. Still not eating too great, toast and milk mostly. See what Dr says tomorrow.

Keeping it together

Rob

I'm currently 100% free from delusion, paranoia, and hallucinations now. First I took my prescribed meds, and I found the perfect one. This medicine is like a cure. I still had paranoia and social anxiety but what I did was I found a job as a security guard for a mall. At first, paranoia and anxiety was incredibly debilitating. I am surprised I was able to do the job. After about 3 months I did not care what anyone thought about me and had no anxiety because I had gotten so used to dealing with people. My advice: Go out and interact with as many people as possible. You start to trust strangers more.

Also it helped that I'm an atheist and already had overcome the fear of death. When I was scared for my life I am able to calm myself just through thoughts alone. So maybe cognitive therapy is something to look into too.

Step 1 is finding the perfect medication like I did.

For me its highly concerning that you are having to deal with paranoid thoughts on your own. I suspect they will escalate if left unchecked.

I am so sorry that you are left alone with these fears and worries. If it were me, i would want to be in hospital right now - although i know people like you that's the last think you want.

Just make sure you get to your doctors appointment tomorrow and tell them the extent of your worries.

Of course you can't get the right meds until you've got to a doctor. So one thing at a time, get to the doctors appointment and don't let them make you wait for two weeks. I personally think that the gp you recommend you get more urgent treatment and i hope they sort that out for you tomorrow.

Meanwhile, while you have the paranoid feelings, you must know that they do not reflect any actual danger in reality. If you can accept what i'm saying here, keep using this knowledge to fend off the paranoia. The paranoia is a symptom of your illness - I am sure you know this. There is no actual danger apart from your own ill health.

Keep us posted.


EDITED: I've just realised that it is a few days since you posted. And since you are not talking to us i'm hoping for the best and that your doctors appointment when well and you are now getting treatment. I hope you will come back when you are stabilised and let us know. Wishing you all the best. We're thinking of you.

Hi

I'm real sorry I have not been back things have been a little crazy for me.

Anyway I went to see the GP Dr and she moved and I am seeing the Head Dr in 2 days time. In ways I've got a little better but having bad nightmare, I woke up on the floor the other day and I don't know if I got out of bed or just fell out, but I woke up because I whacked my head on a metal chair leg pretty hard while having a nightmare. But the Dr did also check that out to be sure I wasn't hurt. I am starting to function now but cant stop the sweating, paranoia, nightmares waking up fighting, stomach problems. I think some of it is down to med's I am taking Lyrica to calm me down and pain problems and I worked it out i'm taking about 300, 50mg tablets a month! I already cut that down to 200mg a day and things are improving slightly. I am starting to feel I can be semi normal at the moment, last week I was too scared to even be downstairs in the house. So I am pretty happy. I still have to see the Dr just to stop this repeating.

Thanks for the replies its nice to know people out there care

Rob

p.s I moved everything out of the way of my bed so I don't go headbutting anymore things in my sleep, C'est la vie